Boiler water conditioner and blowoff system



y 1942- L. o. GUNDERSON ETAL 2,282,775 BOILER WATER CONDITIONER AND.BLOW'OFF SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2, 1939 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i mill! in!lmzmqlom LEW/s O GU/VDER-SO/V OLA/V0 W CARR/CK y 1942- 1.. o. GUNDERSONarm. 2,282,775

BOILER WATER CONDITIONER AND BLOW-OFF SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2, 1939 i sSheets-Sheet 2 Laws 0 GuA/at-Rso/v v OLAND W CARR/CK y 1942- L. o.GUNDERSON ETAL BOILER WATER CONDITIONER AND BLOW'OFF SYSTEM Filed Feb.2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 12, 1942 BOILER WATER CONDITIONERAND BLOWOFF SYSTEM Lewis 0. Gunclerson and Oland W. Garrick, Chicago,111., assignors to Electro-Chemieal Engineering Corporation, Chicago,111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 2, 1939, Serial No.254,176

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the removal of impurities from boiler water inoperating steam boilers at a level above the normal water level in theboilers.

More specifically the invention relates to improvements in collectingtroughs or receptacles adapted to be mounted in the boiler adjacent tothe steam outlet of the boiler for preventing light water, foam or otherimpurities from entering into the steam outlet along with the steam.

The troughs or collectors of this invention are adapted to interceptfoam or light water before the same reaches the steam outlet pipe of theboiler to insure delivery of a high quality steam. The collected matterin the troughs or collectors canbe drained from the boiler into aliquid-actuated valve adapted to open automatically upon accumulation ofa predetermined quantity of liquid so as to permit the accumulatedliquid to be discharged by boiler pressure. If desired, the dischargefrom the valve can be utilized to operate a blow-off valve communicatingwith another part of the boiler so that this part of the boiler willsimultaneously be blown down with the discharge from the collectingtrough.

By locating bulls eye sight glasses in the top plate of the steam domeon a locomotive in service and by directing light into the interior ofthe boiler in operation, we have been able to observe the manner inwhich foam developsinside of a boiler and the manner in which this foamfills the steam space to overflow into the steam outlet pipe. We foundthat the steam velocity was effective in throwing foam and particles ofwater against the steam outlet pipe or dry pipe and other appurtenancesinside of the boiler with such force that it created a spray of waterdroplets which were entrained by the steam and carried into the steamdry pipe.

We observed that on locomotive boilers with tapered boiler courses, thefoam would develop to fill the steam space to the roof sheet in theforward part of the boiler of smaller diameter and would then rise tothe forward end of the steam dome until it would overflow into the steamdry pipe.

In order to prevent the discharge of impurities with the steam into thesteam dry pipe, we located foam-collecting or collapsing troughs on eachside of the dry pipe to intercept the passage of foam and otherimpurities and to permit the working of the locomotive or boiler tocapacity without danger of extraneous matter being entrained with thesteam. Our observations have indicated that the location of thefoamcollapsing trough so as to extend on each side of the steam dry pipesuccessfully prevented the foam from rising into the steam dome.

trough with the ends facing the forward end of the locomotive anddisposed on each side of the steam dry pipe. This U-shaped trough makespossible the use of a single trough to extend on both sides of the steamdry pipe. 1

We have also observed that when foam is 'de veloped to a relatively highpoint in thesteam space to the rear of the steam dome, the steamgenerated in the fire box end of the locomotive is restricted in itspassage to the steam dome and passes at a higher velocity over thesurface of foam in the boiler. This highvelocity steam is effective inpicking up foam and particles of water similar to the manner in which ahighwind throws a water spray from the crests of waves. The picked-upfoam and water particles are violently thrown by the steam against thesteam dry pipe, causing a considerable spray of fine particles of waterthat are readily entrained with the steam rising into the-steam dome. Inorder to prevent water or foam being carried by the high velocity steamfrom spattering against the dry pipe to cause entrainment with the steamentering the dry pipe, we have provided a special V-shaped bafile whichis so constructed that the material picked up by the steam slides alonga slanting surface so as to be deflected to either side of the dry pipewithout causing any spray. Defiecting vanes are used to directthe'material downwardly into the foamcollapsing trough. Our observationshave indicated that this structure prevents the formation of fineparticles of water capable of being lifted by the steam leaving theboiler. While the dual arrangement of the U-shaped foam collapsingtrough and the V-shaped bafll'e is preferred, it will be understood thatbeneficial results will occur through the use of either one of thesedevices. Thus, the deflecting baffle can be used alone to direct thewater back into the boiler instead of into the collapsing trough.Furthermore, the collapsing trough can be used alone without the bafile.I V 7 It is, then, an object of this invention to eliminate moisture andfoam-entrainment in steam leaving a boiler. a

Afurther object of the invention is to provide foam-collapsing orcollecting troughs adjacent the steam outlet of a boiler for removal oflight water and foam from the boiler.

A specific object of. the invention is to provide a U-shapedfoam-collapsing trough around the steam dry pipe of aboiler, such a alocomotive boiler. I V Y Another specific object of the invention is toprovide v-shaped bafllesadjacent the steam outlet of a boiler fordeflectingmaterial entrained with the steam away from the steam outlet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foam-collapsing troughadjacent the steam I outlet of a boiler having bafiles cooperatingtherewith to deflect moisture and other impurities entrained with thesteam into the trough and away from the steam outlet.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide collectingdevices in steam boilers having inlets at levels above the normal waterlevel in the boiler and located adjacent the steam outlet of the boilerfor receiving light water .or

reache the outlet from the boiler and to utilize,

this separated moisture for actuating a blowoff device to blow down theboiler.

Another object of the invention is to collapse foam and light waterdeveloped to a dangerous level in the boiler, to separate moistureentrained from steam in the boiler and to utilize the combined collapsedfoam and separated moisture for effecting a blowing down of the boiler.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed descriptions of theannexed sheets of drawings which form a part of this specification.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, broken diagrammatic side elevational view,with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross-section, of alocomotive boiler equipped with the devices of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view,.with parts in elevation,taken along the line II1I of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view, with partsshown in elevation, taken along the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, with parts inelevation, of a locomotive boiler equipped with another form offoam-collapsing trough according to this invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line V-Vof Figure 4 with part of the boiler shell broken away to show the topplan of the collapsing trough;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation,taken along the line VI-VI I of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a broken, fragmentary side elevational view, with partsbroken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a stationaryvertical tube, horizontal drum type of boiler equipped with thefoam-collapsing trough and baffle devices of this invention;

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, with parts shown in plan,taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, ofa liquid-actuated discharge valve controlled by the liquid removed fromthe collapsing troughs of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral I0 designates generally a locomotivehaving the usual boiler shells ll, Ila, llb and l Ic defining a taperedboiler course I2. Plates [3 define a fire box Min-the boilerat the rearend thereof. The

usual engineers cab is mounted around the rear end of the boiler.

The boiler shell Ila has an opening I6 in the top thereof communicatingwith the usual steam dome I! mounted on top of the boiler. A steamoutlet pipe or dry pipe l8 extends upwardly into 7 the steam dome l1 andhas the open end thereof spaced beneath the top of the dome as shown.

The dry pipe 18 is connected to a horizontal pipe [9 extending to theoperating cylinders of thelocomotive for supplying steam thereto.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a U-shaped foam collapsing trough orcollector 20 is mounted on the dry pipe It! by means of a mountingbracket 2| and bolts such as 2| a (Figure 3). This trough or collector20 has the legs 20 and 20a thereof disposed on each side of the pipe I8,while the base of the U faces the rear end of the boiler and extendsbehind the pipe l8.

The open top of the trough or collector is preferably spaced below thesteam dome I! but communicates with the steam space of the boiler at alevel above the normal boiler water level.

A substantially V-shaped baffle plate 22 has the sides thereof boltedto-the pipe l8 by means of bolts 23. The plate 22 extends above the topof the trough or collector 20 and almost to the top of the pipe l8. Thebase or point of the plate 22 faces the rear of the boiler. As bestshown in Figure 3, the baifie plate 22 is aligned with the interior ofthe trough or collector 20 so that material draining downwardly from theplate will be collected in the trough or collector.

Deflecting vanes 24 are mounted on the plate 22 and slope downwardly inspaced relation from the point or base of the plate to the top of thecollecting trough.

A drain pipe 25 extends into the bottom portion of the collecting trough20 at the rear end thereof as shown. This pipe 25 is coupled to a shortvertical pipe 26 extending upwardly therefrom. The pipe 26 in turn iscoupled to a pipe 21 extending through the boiler shell andcommunicating with a manually operated valve 28 mounted on the outsideof the boiler.

A vent pipe or tube 29 communicates with the vertical pipe 25 so as toprevent a siphon discharge out of the collapsing trough 20. Since thedischarge pipe 21 communicates with the drain pipe 25 at a level abovethe bottom of the collapsing trough the pipe 25 must always be below thelevel of liquid in the trough before the liquid can flow into the pipe21.

As'shown in Figure 1, the valve 28 is operated through a rod 29extending alongside of the locomotive and into the engineers cab [5.This rod 29 can be turned by a handle 30 in the engineers cab.

The valve 28 discharges into a pipe line 3| communicating with aliquid-actuated valve 32. The valve 32 discharges into a pipe 33connected to a pipe 34. The pipe 34 communicates at one end with a pipe35 connected to a blow-off valve 3'! which communicates with the bottomportion 'of the boiler. The other end of the pipe 34 is connected to asteam separator 38 mounted on top of the boiler. The steam separator 38may be of the centrifugal type and has a steam discharge outlet 39 atthe top thereof and a water drain line 40 extending below the bottom ofthe boiler.

When the liquid-actuated valve 32 is opened to permit water from thedrain line 31 to be blown through the valve into the pipe 33, thepressure of this liquid will act on theblow-oif valve, 31 through thepipe line 36 to open the valve. The combined discharge from the blowoffvalve 31 and from the liquid-actuated valve 32 will then enter the steamseparator 38 through the pipe 34. Steam is separated from the combinedliquids and discharges from the separator at 39 while the liquids aredrained with harmless force through the drain line 4|].

The liquidactuated valve 32 is best shown in Figure 9. Y As shown inFigure 9, the drain line 3| from the collapsing trough 20 communicateswith a chamber 4| in the top of the valve. The chamber 4| is connectedthrough a passageway 42 with a float chamber 43 in the bottom of thevalve. A float bucket 44 is mounted in the chamber 43 and is adapted tofloat in the liquid collected in the chamber until the liquid levelrises above the top of the bucket. Liquid will.

then enter the bucket to sink the same. The bucket carries a pilot valve45 on a rod 46 extending through a tube 41 which communicates with theinterior of the bucket. The pilot valve 45 controls a passageway 48 inanauxiliary valve 49 adapted to seat on a valve seat 56 establishingcommunication between the float chamber 43 and a discharge chamber Anopen-ended cylinder 52 is mounted in the discharge chamber 5|. Thiscylinder slidably receives a piston 53 secured to the valve 49 forcontrolling the valve. A second piston 54 likewise is slidable in thecylinder 52 and controls a valve 55 adapted to be seated on a seat 56which establishes communication between the inlet chamber 4| and thedischarge chamber 5|. 7

When the bucket 44 sinks, the pilot valve 45 is pulled away from themouth of the passageway 48 to vent the space 51 between the pistons 53and 54 to the pressure existing in the float chamber. This pressure willforce the pistons apart to open the valves 49 and 55 thereby directlyventing the pipe 3| with the pipe 33 so that liquid will rapidly flowthrough the valve. As soon as the liquid level in the ,float chamber 43reaches a level below the top of the bucket,

the bucket will again float in the chamber to 7 move the pilot valve 45against the mouth of the passageway 48 and the boiler pressure existingin the inlet side of the valve will close the auxiliary valves 49 and55.

This type of valve, therefore, will only permit passage of liquidtherethrough and the steam in the boiler is not vented to the dischargeline 33.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 3 operates by collecting foam, lightwater or other impurities on top of the boiler water into the collapsingtrough 29 and by simultaneously collecting moisture entrained with thesteam entering the steam dome. The collected material is accumulatedinthe trough or collector until a sufficient amount is received thereinfor flowing out through the pipe 3| into the valve 32 for opening thevalve. The valve will then automatically open and the collected liquidwill be discharged through the steam separator where any steam flashedfrom the hot liquid is removed at 38 while the liquid is drained through40 to the road bed. The liquid is propelled through the valve under theboiler pressure existing in the boiler and, if desired, can be utilizedto operate the blow-off valve 31 so, that the lower portion of theboiler will simultaneously be blown down with an emptying of thecollapsing trough 20. If it is desired to prevent a drainage of thecollecting trough 20, the valve 28 can be closed by manipulation of thevalve Wheel 30 in the engineers cab.

,In the modification shown in Figures 4 to 6, a closure plate 60 issecured to the boiler shell Ila in the steam dome portion |1. This plate66 extends snugly around the dry pipe l8 as shown in Figure 4 and has asmaller opening 6| than the opening |6 described in Figures 1 to 3. Asshown in Figures 4 and 6 the plate 66 can be welded to the boiler shellNa and can be reinforced by means of flanges 62 (Figure 6) con,- nectedwith the steam dome H.

A foam collapsing trough 63 has side flanges 64 secured as by welding,riveting or the liketo the inside of the boiler shell Ila and to thebottom face of the plate 60.

The collapsing trough 63 has an elongated channel portion 65 extendingrearwardly from the steam dome H and communicating at its rear end withthe steam space of the boiler through an open top portion 66. This opentop portion 66 is spaced below the top of the boiler shell Ila and steamcan enter into the passage 65 as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4.

The forward end of the collapsing trough 63 has a sump portion 61directly under the steam dome H. The forward walls of the sump portion61 are V- or U-shaped as at 68 to provide legs 61a and 611) on each sideof the dry pipe l8 beneath the plate, 60. The tops of the walls 68 haveflanges 68c thereon (Fig. 4) secured to the plate 66 to close theforward end of the sump 61. As shown in Figure 5 the forward ends of thelegs 61a and 616 are rounded.

Deflecting vanes 69 are mounted in thesump 61 on the U-shaped orV-shaped end walls 68 thereof. These vanes slope downwardly from the topportion of the sump for directing liquid to the bottom of the sump. Thevanes .69 can be curved at their outer end if desired to conform withthe rounded end walls of the legs 61a and 61b as shown in Figure 5.

Additional vanes 69a can be secured on the side walls of the collapsingtrough 63 as shown in Figures 4 to 6 for directing moisture to thebottom of the trough. The vanes 69 and 69a provide pockets or channelsto intercept the moisture. q

The sump 61 is drained through a drain outlet 1|] which can be connectedto a liquid-actuated valve and steam separator as described in Figures 1to 3.

In themodification shown in Figures 4 to 6,

the steam will be fed to the dry pipe l8 through the inlet 66 of thetrough 63. The steam from the inlet 66 will flow forwardly along thepassage 65 of the collapsing trough 63 and will impinge against thewalls 68 at the forward end of the trough. Any moisture entrained withthe steam will be deflected downwardly into the sump 61, while the cleansteam can enter the steam dome through the opening 6| of the plate 60.This trough prevents moisture from entering the dry pipe I8 and iseffective not only in removing entrained moisture from the alreadyformed'steam but .also in removing foam. from the boiler when it reachesa level above the I top of the inlet 66.

V Inthe modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, the reference numeraldesignates a horizontal drum of a stationary type of boiler. The drum8|],has a steam outlet 8| at the top thereof and water tubes 82communicating with the lower portion thereof.

According to this invention, a foam-collapsing trough 83 is mounted inthe drum 88 onsupports 83a secured to the drum wall. The top of thetrough is below the steam outlet 8|. The collapsing trough 83 hasconcentric inner and outer side walls 84 and 85 joined by a base 88 soas to define an annular open top chamber. The inner wall 84 has fourspaced leg portions 84a extending above the wall 85 as shown in Figure8. These legs 84a have V-shaped baffle plates 81 and 88 secured thereonand disposed above the top of the walls 85. Shorter legs 84b connect twoadjoining legs 84a between the divergent ends of each baflle plate 81and 88 at a level above the top'of the wall 85. The tops of the baflieplates are cut away above the legs 84b to provide side passages to thesteam outlet 8|.

The points or converging ends of the baffles 81 and 88 face the ends ofthe drum 8!]. Deflecting vanes 89 are mounted on each baflie 81 and 88on the outer faces thereof and slope downwardly from the tops of thebaffles as indicated;

The top ends of the walls 85 of the collapsing trough 83 are at a levelin the drum 80 that is above the normal water level therein so that foamor light water developed on top of the boiler water can spill into thetrough whenever it reaches a level above the walls 85. Since the walls85 are below the steam outlet 8|, this foam will never reach the levelof the steam outlet.

The deflecting vanes and the baffle plates will direct moistureentrained with the steam either into the collapsing trough or backtoward the boiler water so that the steam entering the outlet 8| issubstantially pure.

The collapsing trough 83 has a drain 9|! communicating with the bottomthereof and connected to a discharge pipe 9| extending through the endof the drum 88. This discharge pipe may be connected to a water-actuatedvalve such as 32 for effecting the automatic removal of water from thecollapsing trough without, however, permitting the discharge of steamfrom the drum.

From the above descriptions, it should be understood that this inventionnow provides improved foam-collapsing troughs or collectors in boilerconstructions. The invention also provides deflecting means or baifiesto separate en trained moisture from the steam before the steam leavesthe boiler. The collapsing trough communicates with the steam space of aboiler at levels above the normal water level in the boiler so that goodboiler water is not discharged through the collapsing trough. At thesame time the inlet levels of the collapsing trough are arranged so thatthe foam or light water will be intercepted before it reaches'the steamoutlet from the boiler.

We are aware that many changes'may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and we,

therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwisethan necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A collecting device for boilers comprising an elongated open top panhaving flanges extending from'the side walls adapted to be secured tothe inner face of a boiler shell at the top of a boiler, said pan havingan inlet opening at one end thereof and a sump portion at the other endthereof, and the end wall of said sump portion being substantiallyU-shaped to define spaced legs-along the sides of the sump.

'2. In a locomotive boiler having a steam dome,- a steam outlet pipeextending from the forward end of the boiler and an upturned leg on theend of the steam pipe extending into the steam dome, the improvementwhich comprises a foam collapsing trough in said boiler defining asubstantially U-shaped chamber around said upturned end of the outletpipe, a drain for said chamber and a baiiie having divergent verticalside walls communicating with the interior of said trough and extendingabove said trough on'each side of said upturned end, said side walls ofthe baflle converging toward the rear of the boiler to provide adeflecting surface for moisture and steam that would normally impingeagainst the upward end of the outlet pipe whereby the moisture can slidealong the deflecting surface and into the trough without creating aspray.

3. In a locomotive boiler having a steam dome at the top-thereof, and asteam throttle pipe extending through said boiler from the front endthereof into said steam dome, the improvement which comprises a foamcollapsing trough in said boiler mounted on said steam throttle pipe anddefining a substantially U-shaped open topped chamber around said pipewith the connecting portion of the chamber facing the rear end of theboiler, a drain for said chamber and converging vertical baliie platescommunicating with the interior of said trough extending above saidtrough having converged ends facing the rear'of the boiler wherebyimpurities entrained in steam passing to the steam dome can slide alongsaid baflie plates without creating a spray and be collected in saidtrough.

4. In a locomotive boiler having a steam dome in the top thereof and athrottle pipe extending from the interior of said boiler upwardly intosaid steam dome, the improvement which comprises a plate member acrossthe bottom of the steam dome having an aperture receiving the throttlepipe therethrough and a second aperture in spaced relation from thethrottle pipe permitting flow of steam into the steam dome, a foamcollapsing trough secured to the inner face of the boiler and having asump portion beneath the aperture in said plate, said trough having asteam inlet opening remote from the steam dome, whereby steam enteringthe throttle pipe will flow through the trough to the sump end thereofand thence upwardly through the aperture in said plate into the steamdome.

5. In a locomotive boiler having a steam dome in the top thereof and athrottle pipe having an upturned end extending into said steam dome, theimprovement which comprises a foam collapsing trough having a sumpportion in the boiler beneath the steam dome and an elongated chamberextending rearwardly in the boiler from said sump, the rear end of saidchamber having a steam inlet opening between the top thereof and the topof the boiler, said sump portion of the trough having spaced legsextending on each side of the throttle pipe beneath the'steam dome and aplate receiving the upturned end of the throttle pipe therethrough, saidplate sealing the tops of said legs.

6. A collecting device for boilers comprising a pan having concentricinner and outer walls joined by a bottom to define an annular opentopped chamber, said inner wall having portions extending above theouter wall and a V-shaped bafiie above said outer wall secured to saidportions "of the inner wall.

7. The method of operating steam boilers to produce high quality steamwhich comprises collecting impurities in the boiler directly from theboiler water at a level belowthe steam outlet but above the normal waterlevel, deflecting moisture in steam leaving the boiler away from thesteam outlet along diverging paths without creating a spray, collectingdeflected moisture, and discharging the collected impurities andmoisture from the boiler.

8. The method of operating steam boilers to produce high quality steamwhich comprises collecting impurities in the boiler directly from theboiler water at a level below the steam outlet but above the normalwater level, deflecting moisture in steam leaving the boiler away fromthe steam outlet, collecting the deflected moisture and discharging thecollected impurities and moisture without substantial loss of steam onlywhen a predetermined amount has been collected.

9. The method of producing high quality steam in a locomotive typeboiler having a steam dome and a steam outlet pipe extending upwardly.from the boiler into the steam dome which comprises downwardly andlaterally deflecting steam that would normally impinge against the pipeaway from the mouth of the pipe to free the steam entering the pipe frommoisture, collecting released moisture from said deflected steam,simultaneously collecting light water and foam from the boiler water ata level above the normal water level but below the mouth of the pipe,and discharging the collected material from the boiler without dischargeof steam therewith.

10. The method of purifying steam in an operating steam boiler whichcomprises impingingsteam in the boiler flowing to the steam outlet ofthe boiler against a baflle sloping laterally outward from the directionof flow of the steam, trapping impurities released by said impingementon said baflle against upward flow to the steam outlet, draining thetrapped impurities downwardly and outwardly from said steam outlet,collecting said impurities in the boiler, and flowing the purified steamupwardly to said steam outlet.

11. In a steam boiler having a water space, a'

steam space above the water space and a steam outlet at the top of thesteam space, the improvements which comprise an open topped collectingpan in said steam space under said outlet with the open top at a levelabove the normal boiler water level in the water space but below saidsteam outlet, a generally V-shaped vertical bafile carried by said panand extending above the open top thereof, said bafile having a verticalleading edge in the path of steam flow to said steam outlet and havingside walls diverging from said leading edge into laterally spacedrelation from said steam outlet, moisture trapping vanes on said bafllecommunicating with the pan for directing moisture from steam impingingagainst the bafile into said pan, and a drain for said pan to dischargecollected moisture out of the boiler. Y

12. In a locomotive boiler having a steam dome at the top thereof, athrottle pipe extending through the boiler from the front end thereofand an elbow pipe secured on the end of the throttle pipe and extendinginto the steam dome, the improvement which comprises a substantiallyU-shaped open topped pan mounted on said elbow below the steam dome andhaving the side legs thereof extending on both sides of the el bow, adrain for said pan, a baffle having convergent vertical side walls oneach side of the elbow communicating with the interior of the pan andextending above the pan, the converged 7 ends of said side walls facingthe rear of the boiler, and downwardly sloping moisture deflecting vaneson said side walls of the battle whereby steam and moisture flowingtoward said elbow pipe will slide along the side walls of the balllewithout creating a spray and whereby said vanes will deflect the slidingmoisture into the pan.

13. In a steam boiler having a steam dome and a steam outlet pipeextending upwardly into said dome, the improvement which comprises anopen topped pan mounted in said boiler below the upper end of said pipe,a baffle extending on each side of said pipe in the path of steam flowto the upper end of the pipe, said baffle communicating with said panand so positioned that steam in flowing to the pipe will impinge againstthe baflle for deflection of moisture entrained therein into the pan.

14. In a steam boiler having a steam outlet in the upper portionthereof, the improvement which comprises an open topped pan mounted insaid boiler below said steam outlet but having the open top thereofabove the normal water level of the boiler at a level to' receivedirectly from the boiler water therfoam and light water on the boilerwater, a bafile communicating with said pan having a converged end inthe path of steam flow to the outlet and having divergent ends on eachside of the steam outlet, and said baflle so positioned that moisture insteam flowing to the outlet will impinge against the baffle and bedeflected into the pan.

15. In a steam boiler including a water space, a steam space, a steamoutlet communicating with the steam space, and a fire box inlongitudinally spaced relation from the steam outlet, the improvementsof an elongated trough mounted in the boiler to extend beneath the steamoutlet and in a longitudinal direction therefrom toward the fire box,said trough having side and end walls projecting into the steam spaceabove the normal water level in the boiler and providing an inlet to thetrough at a level below the steam outlet and above the normal waterlevel to intercept into the trough foam and light water direct from theboiler water before the foam and light water reach the steam outlet,said trough defining an elongated localized non-steam-generating clearsteam channel to the steam outlet, and a drain for discharging collapsedfoam and light water out of the trough to maintain the clear steamchannel.

16. The method of operating steam boilers to produce high quality steamwhich comprises forming a localized boiler course beneath the steamoutlet of the boiler and extending toward the hottest portion of theboiler, collecting impurities directly from the boiler water into saidlocalized course at a level below the steam outlet but above the normalwater level, and dis-- charging the collected impurities to maintain a Vnon-steam-generating clear steam channel along the length of the courseto the steam outlet. OLAND W. CARRICK. LEWIS O. GUNDERSON.

